92 Captain Munro on the Timber Trees of Bengal. 



The timber described as Kerdun, or Keerra, from Chota Nag- 

 pore, and so favourably reported on by Major Goodwyn, most 

 probably is the same. Captain Tickell, in forwarding the 

 specimens, says, — " It works easily and smoothly, does not 

 chip or crack by the weather, and the grain is so fine, that 

 the smallest work with the highest polish could be done in it." 



19. Kendoo — Ebony. — There are several kinds of ebony in 

 India ; in fact there is no part that does not contain at least 

 two or three different species oi Diospyros^ all of which produce 

 more or less black wood, but D. melanoxylon is superior to any 

 other. I imagine there is no wood more durable than ebony, 

 and no insect can do it any harm. I refer only to the heart 

 of the tree ; the outside wood, which composes the largest 

 parts of many trees, is attacked immediately by all kinds of 

 insects. In Central India, where the ebony grows to a large 

 size, and is very commonly used for beams in houses, a large 

 tree is cut down and left for a year, when it will be found 

 with all the light-coloured wood eaten away, and the hard 

 and durable ebony alone left ; carpenters are very loath to 

 use the wood, as it injures their tools very much, and with 

 many the fine particles which come off in the working, cause 

 intolerable sneezing. Every one is aware of the beauty of 

 ebony, if well polished, but few perhaps imagine that it is to 

 be procured in such abundance as it is. It is to be found in 

 every jungle of India. 



Ablooya, Kyan^ Gab, Oorigab, are all known native names 

 for different species of good useful ebony. All these trees 

 are species in the neighbourhood of Calcutta, and some very 

 fine trees of the Kyan, Diospyros tomentosa, occur at Allipore. 

 The G4b is known and used as a paying substance for boats 

 by all natives ; and it will very probably be found that Gutta 

 Percha, which in time must become one of the most valuable 

 exports from the Straits of Malacca, is a species of Diospyrus. 



20. Jarool — Lagerstromia. — This is the pretty tree that so 

 ornaments most of our woods with its beautiful light purple 

 flower in June. There appears to be very various opinions 

 regarding the merits of the wood as such, which, while one 

 variety is strongly recommended, another is equally strongly 

 condemned. It is, therefore, necessary to be very cautious in 



